WHAT TO EXPECT

The Discipleship Training School is a five-month program that invites you to deepen your relationship with God, his world, and his people through engaging content and meaningful activities. The DTS is the introductory school to YWAM and could be your first step into long-term missions. Our DTS starts with two months of lectures, then you will spend 10 weeks on an overseas outreach partnering with the local church and ministries. After outreach, you have three more weeks in Lynden to prepare for your next steps and reflect on your time in the DTS.

1. Preperation

The first 10 weeks are focused on strengthening the foundation of your relationship with the Bible and deepening your understanding of who God is while building friendships and serving those around you. Each week features a new speaker teaching on a topic foundational to your discipleship journey, along with worship and prayer times, local ministry, small group discussion, and activities focused on the elective of your choice.

2. Outreach

The next 10 weeks will be spent overseas, taking the message of Jesus to those who don’t know him yet. Most of our outreach teams go to Central or Southeast Asia, North Africa, or the Middle East. Putting into practice what you learned during the lecture phase, you will get to participate in God’s purposes for the places you visit on outreach and share his love with the people you meet.

3. Reflection

The final 3 weeks are focused on equipping you for what’s next after DTS, be that in YWAM, going to college, working a job, or moving overseas long-term. You will see and experience a lot of new things during DTS and as the program comes to a close, we will take time to unpack what you learned and share stories of what God did through you and others during DTS.

Outreach Destinations

North Africa

Central and Southeast Asia

Middle East

YWAM’s Discipleship Training School (DTS) outreach destinations include North Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, where students have the opportunity to engage with unreached people and share the message of Jesus. Through hands-on outreach, students experience different cultures, deepen their faith, and play an active role in spreading the Gospel in some of the most spiritually needy areas of the world.

Schedule

The DTS is a 6-month program

The first 10 weeks of the DTS focus on deepening your relationship with God and strengthening your understanding of the Bible through teachings, worship, prayer, and local ministry. The following 10 weeks are spent overseas on outreach, where you’ll put your learning into practice by sharing the message of Jesus, followed by 3 weeks of reflection and preparation for the next steps in your faith journey, whether that’s with YWAM, in college, or pursuing long-term missions.

Electives in all schools:

    • Adventure
    • Barista
    • Music & Worship

Starting 2025

2025
September 25, 2025 - February 27, 2026

Starting 2026

2026
January 22 - June 26, 2026
2026
September 24, 2026 - February 26, 2027

Cost

Lecture Phase
$4,000
Outreach Phase
$4,000
Total
$8,000

LIFE COACHING

At YWAM North Cascades, we provide personalized life coaching for every DTS student, not just during the program, but for three months after DTS as well. This support helps students develop a vision and plan for what’s next, and move into their next environment with focus and impact.